Eastern Samar Province Report on MDGs Progress

Province of EASTERN SAMAR
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Philippines Fourth Progress Report on the Millennium Development Goals using CBMS Data - Province of Province of Marinduque

Status Report on the
Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs)
Using CBMS Data

Province of Eastern Samar

Foreword
We must admit that tracking the progress of the province vis-a-vis the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) is no mean feat. This Provincial Report initially attempted
to utilize several sources of data so as to assess its progress on the eight Millennium
Development Goals but the authors later discovered that different data sources used
definitions of indicators that were mostly not congruent with the definitions used for the
Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) indicators.

Hence, a decision was made to turn this into a baseline report using the results of the
first CBMS survey done in 2005-2006 on 22 municipalities and one city in Eastern Samar.
After all, changes in progress (or regress, for that matter) would be next to impossible to
track without baseline data. Therefore, the value of this report lies in its utility as a basis
for comparison with results of later surveys done using the CBMS tool. The province
has, in fact, launched its second round of province-wide CBMS surveys in 2009 and is in
process of encoding the data gathered.

The importance of other sources of data cannot be discounted. While the CBMS is the
main source of data in this report, we also turned to other sources to get a richer and
deeper understanding of the circumstances of the people covered by this study. The
worthiness of CBMS lies in the fact that it can identify who the poor are, where they are
and what kinds of interventions are most appropriate given their situations on the 13+1
indicators. Comparisons across municipalities, barangays and urban/rural populations
and between genders are possible with CBMS but may not be possible with other data
sources.

As a management tool, the CBMS survey has already proven itself very helpful, especially
when used hand-in-hand with other data sources in planning developmental strategies
for the most disadvantaged and marginalized sectors. Overseas development agencies
and other funding donors have learned to appreciate the value of CBMS and therefore
used its results as bases for the level of assistance they would extend .

Since the province of Eastern Samar first conducted its CBMS survey in 2006---16 years
after the MDG reference year of 1990---it has to contend with the urgency of having to
reach the MDG goals in five years (2015). Keeping track of the progress using the CBMS
survey will entail commitment on the part of local chief executives to support and utilize
purposively the results of the CBMS data.

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Province of Eastern Samar Status Report on the Millennium Development Goals Using CBMS Data

Message
The preparation of provincial MDGs reports is a critical step that Local Government
Units (LGUs) have taken in the overall effort to localize the MDGs. As it is often said, the
MDGs will be ‘won or lost’ at the local level given the conditions of uneven progress
and disparities across regions and provinces in the country.

Beyond the national averages, one can see wide disparities on the gains in
poverty reduction, universal education, child mortality and maternal health. This situa-
tion reinforces the notion that the progress of each province is just as important as the
achievements of the country as a whole. After all, the Philippines’ progress towards the
MDGs, is the sum of the efforts and gains of all LGUs.

By preparing provincial reports, LGUs are provided vital information on the
status of the MDGs in their areas of inﬂuence. These reports are important sources of
information for planning, resource allocation and priority setting that LGUs are tasked under their
mandate of effective local governance. Likewise, in the course of the preparation of the reports, the
capacity of LGUs to collect, monitor and use data for decision making has been greatly enhanced.
The reports also show how far the Community Based Monitoring System (CBMS) that UNDP has
supported can go in terms of its use.

Against the backdrop of renewed optimism emanating from the new political leadership, this ﬁrst
set of nine Provincial Reports on the MDGs is a timely and important milestone. The reports provide
crucial insights on how to overcome the constraints in achieving the MDGs locally as the country
gears towards the last stretch to attain the eight goals by 2015. They also emphasize the important
role of active collaboration of political leaders, stakeholders, and donors in achieving the MDGs.

I wish to commend the nineProvincial Governments that prepared their reports – the Agusan
del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Biliran, Camarines Norte, Eastern Samar, Marinduque, Romblon, Sa-
rangani, and Siquijor Province – the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) Network and
the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for working together in bringing about
this important accomplishment.

With this initiative, it is hoped that other provinces will follow suit to attain nationwide support
for the need to accelerate the pace of the achievement of the MDGs by 2015. y

Dr. Jacqueline Badcock
UN Resident Coordinator and
UNDP Resident Representative

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Status Report on the Millennium Development Goals Using CBMS Data

Message

Republic of the Philippines
PROVINCE OF EASTERN SAMAR
Borongan
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

As the newly elected Local Chief Executive of the Province
of Eastern Samar, the publication of this report is timely and
is very much appreciated. It is a rich source of information
that provides a realistic picture of the situation of the province
and its constituents. Having been a local chief executive for
24 years, I have learned to appreciate the importance of
monitoring tools, among others, in public administration. The value of the Community
Based Monitoring System (CBMS) is its unique characteristic of being able to locate
specifically who the poor are, where they are and what their specific needs are. This is
very important in planning and deciding pro-poor development interventions that are
demand driven and relevant to the circumstances of our constituents.

I am fortunate that the completion of the second round of the CBMS survey happens
during my administration. The results will help us track changes and assess how much
we have accomplished and what more we need to do so that MDG goals and targets
will be reached, if not approximated, by 2015.

My administration will see to it that CBMS will play a major role in the attainment of the
vision and mission of uplifting the quality of life in this province. And hopefully this will
contribute, no matter how minimal, to the global design of a poverty free world.

Mabuhay tayong lahat!

HON. CONRADO B. NICART, JR.
CONRADO
D
Governor

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Message

The formulation of the Provincial MDG Report is very helpful in
tracking our progress in relation to our commitment to attain the
global goals and targets. It drives us to be more conscious of the
status of various MDG indicators so that appropriate strategies
and interventions will be implemented to respond to areas with low
probability of attainment and to sustain those that have already
been attained.

It is incumbent upon local chief executives and development
planners to utilize wisely the results of the Community-Based
Monitoring System (CBMS) survey, together with other sources
of information. Development issues are complex in nature that
need collaboration in terms of data collection, analysis, and utilization. Best decisions
and choices are made by those who are well-informed.

The preparation of this Provincial Report on the MDGs based on the 2005-2006 CBMS
results was made possible through a technical collaboration with the United Nations
Development Programme through NEDA-SDS and the PEP-CBMS Network Coordinat-
ing Team. Now on its second round, we will be able to better assess the developments
in the lives of our constituents and thereby identify the means by which our vision for an
improved quality of life can be fully attained.

We are grateful to the PEP-CBMS Network Team for their technical support in the
making of this report and to United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for the
funding assistance through the Social Development Staff (SDS) of the National Economic
and Development Authority (NEDA) for their technical assistance and support. We also
thank the other provinces who went through the process of crafting the same report and
provided the inspiration and motivation so that the seemingly enormous task became
more manageable.

HON. BEN P. EVARD
. BEN EVARDONE
E
Representative, Eastern Samar

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Preface

As one of the 189 countries that committed themselves to the United Nations’ Millen-
nium Declaration to combat poverty, hunger, diseases, illiteracy, and environmental
degradation worldwide, the Philippines must keep its promise of reaching the goals and
targets set forth in this declaration by year 2015. Thus, it is essential that the performance
vis-à-vis these goals and targets be monitored periodically and declared. We keep track
of where we are and how much more we have to do, what resources are needed, and
how much are needed so that the desired quality of life will be achieved.

The implementation of the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) in Eastern
Samar in 2006 has facilitated the monitoring of its progress on the Millennium Develop-
ment Goals (MDGs) and targets. In 2009, the CBMS was updated province-wide, and
results are now in the process of being encoded. With this, a progress report can be
formulated. Until then, the results of the first round of CBMS (2005-2006) will serve as
baseline data upon which all other results can be compared.

The preparation of this Provincial Report on the MDGs based on the 2005- 2006 CBMS
results was made possible with financial assistance from the United Nations Develop-
ment Program through NEDA-SDS and technical assistance from the CBMS Network
Coordinating Team. Nine other provinces who took the same challenge of coming
up with their provincial reports on the MDGs based on the CBMS stood as source of
inspiration and wisdom.

We also thank the stakeholders and partners from the provincial government, national
government, the nongovernment organizations, faith communities, the academe, the
media and the local and overseas development agencies such as United Nations Fund
for Population Activities, the European Commission (EC), United Nations Children’s Fund,
PLAN Philippines, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit or German
Technical Cooperation (GTZ) Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), Voluntary Service
Overseas (VSO), World Bank, World Heath Organization, International Labor Organi-
zation (ILO), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Australian Agency for International
Development (AusAID) who are contributing to the attainment of the Province’s MDGs
and targets.

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Table of Contents

Foreword ....................................................................................................... 2
Messages UN Resident Coordinator Dr. Jacqueline Badcock ........................ 3
Governor Conrado B. Nicart ........................................................... 4
Representative Ben P. Evardone ....................................................... 5
Preface .......................................................................................................... 6
Table of Contents ............................................................................................. 7
List of Acronyms .............................................................................................. 9
List of Tables ................................................................................................... 11
List of Figures .................................................................................................. 12
List of Maps .................................................................................................... 13
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................. 14
Part 1. Provincial Profile
A. History ....................................................................................... 18
B. Geo-physical Environment ............................................................ 19
C. Population and Social Environment ............................................... 20
D. Local Economy ............................................................................. 22
E. Infrastructure/Utilities/Facilities ....................................................... 23
F. Local Institutional Capability .......................................................... 25
Part 2. Status Report on the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
Goal 1 - Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger ................................................... 27

Goal 2 - Achieve Universal Primary Education ...................................................... 39

Goal 3 - Promote Gender Equality ...................................................................... 46

Goal 4 - Reduce Child Mortality ......................................................................... 51

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Table of Contents

Goal 5 - Improve Maternal Health .................................................................. 57

Goal 6 - Combat HIV / AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases ................................. 65

Goal 7 - Ensure Environmental Sustainability ................................................... 70
Goal 8 - Develop a Global Partnership for Development .................................. 77
Part 3. Meeting the 2015 Challenge
Priority Programs and Policy Responses ................................................
80
Financing the MDGs ..........................................................................
82
Monitoring Progress Toward the Attainment of the MDGs ........................ 83

Part 4. Conclusion and Recommendations .......................................... 84
Explanatory Text ..................................................................................... 88

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List of Acronyms

ADB Asian Development Bank
ARCP Agrarian Reform Community Projects
BEONC Basic Essential Obstetrics and Neonatal Care
BEmONC Basic Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care
BHERT Barangay Health Emergency Response Team
BHS Barangay Health Station
BJMP Bureau of Jail Management and Penology
CBMIS Community Based Management Information System
CBMS Community Based Monitoring System
CEmONC Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care
DA Department of Agriculture
DepEd Department of Education
DOH Department of Health
DOTS Directly Observed Treatment for Short Course Chemotherapy
DSWD Department of Social Welfare and Development
ECCD Early Childhood Care and Development
ESPH Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital
FAMH Felipe Abrigo Memorial Hospital
FHSIS Field Health Service Information System
GAD Gender and Development
GIDA Geographically Isolated and Depressed Areas
GOs Government Organizations
GTZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit
ILHZ Inter-Local Health Zone
IMCI Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses
InFRES Infrastructure for Rural Productivity Enhancement Sector
JPMNH Joint Program for Maternal and Neonatal Health
KALAHI–CIDSS Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services
MDG Millennium Development Goals
MOVE Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere

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List of Acronyms

MSWDO Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office
NAPC National Anti-Poverty Commission
NDCC National Disaster Coordinating Council
NDHS National Demographic and Health Survey
NSCB National Statistical Coordination Board
NSO National Statistics Office
OPT Operation Timbang
PNP Philippine National Police
PNRC Philippine National Red Cross
RHU Rural Health Unit
TESDA Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
UNFPA United Nations Population Fund
UNICEF United Nations ChildrenÊs Emergency Fund
USAID United States Agency for International Development
VAWC Violence Against Women and Children
VAW Violence Against Women
VSO Voluntary Service Overseas
WASH Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Program
WCPU Women and Child Protection Unit
WHO World Health Organization
WHT WomenÊs Health Team

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List of Tables

Table 1 Summary Table of MDG and CBMS Indicators (Eastern Samar)
Table 2 Distribution of Barangays by Municipality: 2003
Table 3 Population by Municipality: CBMS 2005 - 2006
Table 4 Number and Size of Households by Municipality: CBMS 2005 -2006
Table 5 Proportion of Households / Population Below the Poverty Threshold by Sex, by Urban/Rural
Table 6 Magnitude and Proportion of Households / Population Living Below Food Threshold
Table 7 Population Poverty Gap Ratio by Urban /Rural
Table 8 Employment Rate of Population by Sex, by Urban/Rrural (CBMS)
Table 9 Proportion of Households / Population Who Experienced Food Shortage
Table 10 Prevalence of Underweight Children Under 5 Years of Age
Table 11 Proportion of Children Aged 6 -12 Years Old Enrolled in Elementary Education
Table 12 Proportion of Children Aged 13 – 16 Years Old Enrolled in High School
Table 13 Proportion of Children Aged 6 – 16 years Old Enrolled in School
Table 14 Literacy Rate of 15-24-Year-Olds by Sex and by Rural / Urban
Table 15 Ratio of Girls to Boys in Education by Urban / Rural
Table 16 Proportion of Children Aged 0 to Less Than 5 Years Old Who Died
Table 17 Proportion of Infants Who Died by Urban / Rural
Table 18 Proportion of Children Aged 1 to Less than 5 Years Old Who Died
Table 19 Proportion of Women Deaths Due to Pregnancy-Related Causes
Table 20 Contraceptive Prevalence Rate
Table 21 Death Rates Associated with Tuberculosis
Table 22 Proportion of Population with Access to Safe Drinking Water
Table 23 Proportion of Households/Population With Access to Sanitary Ttoilet Facility
Table 24 Proportion of Households/Population Who Are Informal Settlers
Table 25 Proportion of Population who are Living in Makeshift Housing
Table 26 Proportion of Households/Population Living in Inadequate Living Conditions
Table 27 Proportion of Households with Cellphones by Urban/Rural
Table 28 Proportion of Population with Computers, by Urban/Rural
Table 29 The CBMS-MDG Indicators and Their Definition
Table 30 Poverty and Food Thresholds

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List of Figures

Figure 1 Location Map of the Province of Eastern Samar
Figure 2 Urban-Rural Population : CBMS 2006
Figure 3. Sex Distribution : CBMS 2006
Figure 4. CBMS Coverage in the Philippines (as of May 12, 2010)

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List of Maps

Map 1 Proportion of Population Below Poverty Threshold by Municipality
Map 2 Proportion of Population Living Below Food Threshold by Municipality
Map 3 Poverty Gap Ratio by Municipality
Map 4 Employment Rate by Municipality
Map 5 Food Shortage by Municipality
Map 6 Prevalence of Underweight Children Under 5 Years of Age
Map 7 Children Aged 6 -12 Years Old Enrolled in Elementary Education
Map 8 Children Aged 13 - 16 Years Old Enrolled in High School by Municipality
Map 9 Proportion of Children Aged 6 – 16 Years Old Enrolled in School
Map 10 Literacy Rate of 15- 24 year-Olds
Map 11 Ratio of Girls to Boys in Primary Education
Map 12 Ratio of Girls to Boys in Secondary Education
Map 13 Ratio of Girls to Boys in Tertiary Education
Map 14 Ratio of Literate Females to Males
Map 15 Proportion of Seats Held by Women in Elected Positions
Map 16 Children Aged 0 to Less Than 5 Years Old Who Died
Map 17 Proportion of Infants Who Died
Map 18 Proportion of Children Aged 1 to Less Than Five Years Old Who Died
Map 19 Proportion of Women Deaths Due to Pregnancy Related Causes
Map 20 Prevalence and Death Rates Associated with Tuberculosis
Map 21 Proportion of Land Area Covered by Forest
Map 22 Proportion of Population With Access to Safe Drinking Water
Map 23 Proportion of Population with Access to Sanitary Toilet Facility
Map 24 Proportion of Population Who Are Informal Settlers
Map 25 Proportion of Population Who are Living in Makeshift Housing
Map 26 Proportion of Population Living in Inadequate Living Conditions

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Community-Based Monitoring System months prior to the survey was only 0.4
(CBMS) survey, which was conducted percent.
province-wide in Eastern Samar during • Proportion of children aged 0 to less
the period 2005-2006, indicated a total than 5 who died in the last 12 months prior
population of 385,875 consisting of 79,976 to the survey was only 0.9 percent.
households, with an average household • Proportion of deaths among children
size of five. The results of the survey, as aged 1 to less than 5 was only 0.6 percent.
indicated in Table 1, show the status of the • Proportion of the population who are
province in relation to the eight Millennium informal settlers was only 2.9 percent.
Development Goals (MDGs). • Proportion of the population who are
living in makeshift housing was only 2.3
Good News percent.
• Around 78.7 percent of the population
These results suggest some good news had access to safe drinking water.
among the different indicators. Some targets • Proportion of the population with access
show promise of being met by 2015 owing to sanitary toilet facilities was 69.5 percent.
to the fact that programs and services of the • Employment rate in the province was
local government units (LGUs) are focused 77.7 percent.
on the needed areas.

• Prevalence of underweight children Not-so-Good-News
under 5 years of age was only 6.7 percent.
• The literacy rate among population There are also not-so-good news as
aged 15-24 was 96.6 percent. shown by the relatively poor performance
• The ratios of girls to boys in primary, in some of the indicators. These indicators
secondary and tertiary education are more also reveal that there is less likelihood of
or less equal to 1; either 0.9 or 1.1. meeting some of the targets by 2015.
• Proportion of seats held by women in
elective positions in municipalities and the • Proportion of the population living below
province was 46.5 percent. Majority of the the poverty threshold was 69.5 percent.
elected officials in the six (6) municipalities • Proportion of the population living
were females. below the food threshold was 59.4 percent.
• Death associated with malaria was zero • Poverty gap ratio was 0.4 for the entire
(0) since the province is malaria-free. province.
• Proportion of women deaths due to • Proportion of the population who experi-
pregnancy-related causes in the last 12 enced food shortage in the last 3 months
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Table 1. Summary Table of MDG and CBMS Indicators (Eastern Samar)

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Table 1. (Continued)

prior to the survey was 13.8 percent. • Proportion of infants who died in the
• Proportion of children aged 6-12 who last 12 months prior to the survey was 2.5
are not enrolled in elementary education percent.
was 23.4 percent. • Death rate associated with tubercu-
• Proportion of children aged 13-16 who losis was about 33 per 100,000 popula-
are not enrolled in high school was 43.2 tion.
percent. • About 45.0 percent of the popula-
• Proportion of children aged 6-16 who tion were living in inadequate living
were not enrolled in school was 16.5 percent. conditions.
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Posing a Great Challenge • More and better quality educational
facilities for pre-school, elementary and
• Poverty is the biggest cause for high school students must be accessible,
concern. The provincial poverty incidence especially for those living in geographically
is at 69.5. The challenge therefore is how to isolated areas.
provide opportunities for and support family • Information technology and commu-
income. nication facilities need to be expanded to
• While only 13.8 percent of the include far-flung municipalities.
province experiences food shortage, the
proportion of those living below food The attainment of the MDG goals and
threshold is high at 58.7 percent, indicat- targets depends largely on the political
ing that majority are unable to meet the will to carry out the policy directions
required food needs. Hunger mitigation and and on the provision of the necessary
malnutrition need to be addressed. resources needed in operationalizing the
• In the area of health, diseases such policies. For 2010, the province of Eastern
as tuberculosis and other endemic diseases Samar has allocated 40.5 percent of its
such as filariasis, schistosomiasis and 20-percent Development Fund to social
dengue must be contained/controlled. services that include programs, projects
• Reduction of maternal and child and activities primarily on health and
deaths must be sustained. nutrition, education, water and sanitation,
• Provision of basic services such and sports development. For economic
as water, sanitation, and adequate living and support infrastructure, 7.1 percent
conditions need to be addressed vis-à- and 17.1 percent, respectively, have been
vis the need to ensure the protection and allocated. Financial, material and techni-
sustainability of the environment and cal resources are expected from local and
natural resources. foreign donors .

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Part 1.
Provincial Profile
A. History Llorente, Hernani, Gen. MacArthur, Salce-
do, Quinapondan, Giporlos, Balangiga,
Brief History of the Province Lawaan, Mercedes, and Guiuan.

Eastern Samar became an independent The province has 597 barangays.
province by virtue of Republic Act No. 4221, Borongan has the most number of baran-
which Congress approved on June 19, 1965 gays with 61, followed by Guiuan with 60
dividing the then old province of Samar into barangays. The municipality with the least
three separate provinces, namely: North- number of barangays (12 in all) is Maslog,
ern Samar, Western Samar (subsequently followed by Balangiga, Hernani, and
renamed Samar), and Eastern Samar. A Jipapad with 13 each.
plebiscite held simultaneously with the
November 1965 general elections upheld Table 2. Distribution of Barangays By Municipality: 2003
the conversion of Eastern Samar into a
separate province.

Political Subdivision

Eastern Samar, a lone congressional
district, is part of Eastern Visayas (Region
VIII) together with other five provinces,
namely: Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar,
Northern Samar, and Biliran. Local admin-
istrative jurisdiction set in the Sangguni-
ang Panlalawigan divides the province’s
23 municipalities into two districts, District
I and District II.

District I is composed of 11 northern
municipalities that include the capital
town Borongan, San Julian, Sulat Taft,
Can-avid, Dolores, Maslog, Oras, Jipapad,
San Policarpo, and Arteche. District II
is composed of 12 southern municipali-
ties, namely: Maydolong, Balangkayan,
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Figure 1. Location Map of the Province of Eastern Samar
B. Geo-Physical Environment

Location and Boundaries

Eastern Samar is the third largest province
of Region VIII, next only to Leyte and Samar.
It is in the eastern part of the island of
Samar. The entire east coast of the province
faces the Philippine Sea that forms part of
the Pacific Ocean. Eastern Samar's other
boundaries are: Northern Samar on the
north; Samar on the west; and Leyte Gulf
that merges farther south with Surigao Strait
on the south.

Borongan, the provincial capital, is
approximately 550 air-kilometers southeast
of Manila and around 65 air-kilometers
northeast of Tacloban City, the regional
capital.

Land Area
Eastern Samar has a total land area of
4,640.7 square kilometers based on the
land area as certified by the Land Manage-
ment Bureau to the Department of Budget
and Management. The province's land area
represents 19.98 percent of Eastern Visayas’ The province is within the Philippine fault
total land area of 23,230 square kilometers. zone that averages 16 perceptible seismic
shocks per year. The two major faults in
Topography the province are located 4 kilometers east
The interior part of the province is rough, of Giporlos in the N40 degree W direction,
hilly, and covered with dense tropical and Jipapad in the direction of N60 degree
vegetation. At the northwestern part are W to San Roque in Northern Samar.
mountain ranges and peaks as high as 783
meters above sea level. Narrow ribbons of Slope
plains hug most of the coastal areas and in
some instances, the banks of major rivers The predominance of land with more than
and their tributaries. The southern bank of 18 percent slope indicates the mountainous
Dolores River holds the province's widest and hilly terrain of the province. These types
contiguous plain. Quinapondan has a of lands make up three-fifths, or a combined
smaller area of contiguous plains. 61.3 percent of the entire area of the
19

province. Approximately 23.3 percent of the Table 3. Population by Municipality: CBMS 2005-2006
total land area or 1,042 square kilometers
have slopes of less than 8 percent. Some
697 square kilometers considered as rolling
to moderately rolling make up 16.0 percent.

Climate

Eastern Samar falls under the Type II
climate as classified by Coronas, that is,
it has no dry season but features a very
pronounced maximum rainfall from Novem-
ber to January. The northeast monsoon
prevails during the rainy months while the
westernly winds prevail during the months
of less rainfall.

C. Population and Social Environment

Total Population
The total population of Eastern Samar
based on the 2007 Census of Popula-
tion conducted by the National Statistics
Office (NSO) was 405,114 persons, an Source: CBMS Survey 2005-2006

increase of 29,292 or about 7.8 percent
over the 2000 census count of 362,324. This individuals were Maslog (3,707), Jipapad
accounted for 10.4 percent of the region’s (5,245) and Mercedes (5,805), which
total population of 3,912,936. Borongan accounted for proportions of 0.96 percent,
registered the largest population at 59,354 1.3 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively.
persons, which accounted for 14.7 percent
of the province’s total population. This was Number and Size of Household
followed by Guiuan with 43,469 persons According to the CBMS survey in
or 10.7 percent; and Dolores with 34,522 2005-2006, the number of households in
persons (8.5%). Maslog (4,788) and Eastern Samar reached 79,976, with each
Mercedes (5,041) were the municipalities household consisting of an average of
with the smallest population size. five persons. Borongan City recorded the
Based on the Community-Based Monitor- highest number of households in 2006 with
ing System (CBMS) Survey, the total 12,362, followed by Guiuan with 8,268 and
population of Eastern Samar in 2006 was Dolores with 7,319. Maslog and Jipapad
385,875. Borongan led with 58,389 individ- each showed a number of households
uals (15.1%), followed by Guiuan with that was less than 1,000. The rest of the
39,988 (10.3%) and Dolores with 35,047 18 municipalities had household counts
(9.0%). Those with the smallest number of ranging from 1,104 to 6,446.
20

Table 4. Number and Size of Households by Municipality:
CBMS 2005-2006
Figure 2. . Urban-Rural Population : CBMS 2006

In 2006, the CBMS survey revealed that
the rural (70.6%) household population still
outnumbered the household population in
the urban areas (29.4%).

Sex Distribution
In 2000 report of NSO, there was a slight
predominance of men over the women
Source: CBMS Survey 2005-2006 population. Male household population
numbered 192,274 or 9,424 more than the
Urban-Rural Distribution female household population of 182,850.
In 1995, about 30.9 (NS0) percent of the The sex ratio remained the same at 105
province’s household population lived in males for every 100 females from 1995 to
urban areas. More than two-thirds, or 69.1 2000.
percent, of the total household popula- The province has a relatively young
tion constituted the rural population. This population and gradually diminishing
distribution was comparable to that of the proportion at successive older ages. In
region, where some 69 percent of the total 2000, 65 percent of the total population was
household population lived in rural areas. below 30 years old. Of these, 51.6 percent
In the last two decades, urban and rural were men and 48.4 percent were women.
population grew at an even pace. For the There were more older (60 years old and
three census periods 1980, 1990, and 1995, above) women than men. Of those 60
the proportion of population residing in the years old and above in 2000, 52.3 percent
urban areas has been constant at 30 percent. were women and 47.7 percent were men.
Likewise, the proportion of rural population There were more men than women in
remained unchanged at 69 percent. 2006, according to the CBMS survey. The
21

Figure 3. Sex Distribution : CBMS 2006 of the total population. Males
had a higher proportion
(48.1%) than the females
(25.5%). Urban areas had
a higher proportion (38.4%)
than that of the rural areas
(36.6%). The CBMS survey
further indicated an employ-
ment rate of 77.7 percent.
Males had a significantly
higher (83.7%) employment
rate than females (65.5%).
Employment rate was higher
proportion of male population was slightly in the rural (79.0%) than in the urban areas
higher (51.7%) than that of the females (74.6%).
(48.3%).
Poverty Threshold and Incidence
D. Local Economy Among the six provinces in Eastern
Visayas, Eastern Samar ranked next to the
Family Income and Expenditures highest in poverty incidence (42.7%) of
The province’s average family income families in 2006, according to the National
was estimated at 71,527 pesos in 2000, Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB)
up by 28.42 percent from the 1997 level of report. From the 36th poorest province in
55,694 pesos, the lowest in Region Vlll. The the whole country in 2003 it dropped to the
average family expenditure in 1997 was 23rd ranking in 2006, indicating an increase
47,625 pesos, which increased to 61,742 in poverty incidence.
pesos in 2000 (FIES; NSO 1997 and 2000).
The CBMS survey showed that the
Main Source of Income province had 50,772 households (63.7%)
living below the poverty threshold in 2006.
More than two-ﬁfth---or 42.6 percent, to This translates to 268,104 persons or 69.5
be exact---of the families in Eastern Samar percent who are classified as poor. A higher
derived their income from entrepreneurial or proportion of the males (70.2%) than of the
family-operated activities; 24.2 percent from females (68.7%) was below the poverty
salaries and wages; and more than one-third threshold. Those in the rural areas had
(or 33.2 %) from other sources other than a higher poverty incidence (69.3%) than
work such as cash receipts, gifts, pension and those in the urban areas (50.0%).
retirement, rental of buildings, spaces and Annual per-capita poverty threshold
other properties (FIES; NSO 2000). increased from P11,025 in 2003 to P13,873
in 2006. With this threshold, a family of five
Labor Force and Employment members in the province should have a
The CBMS survey 2005-2006 indicated a monthly income of P5,773 to meet its food
total labor force of 143,530 or 37.1 percent and nonfood requirements.
22

E. Infrastructure / Utilities / Facilities The province is linked to Metro Manila
through the Philippine-Japan Highway that
Road Network traverses Western Samar to the ferry termi-
The main road network of the province nals in Allen and Alegria, both in Northern
runs through the major settlements and Samar. Buses of Silver Star Transport Line,
along the coastal areas from Arteche to Eagle Star Transit, and CUL Transport Line
barangay Buenavista in Quinapondan, travel this route from Balangiga, Guiuan,
where it branches west to Lawaan and Oras, and Borongan. The average travel
south to Guiuan. The total road network time from Borongan to Metro Manila is 24
had a length of 1,402.09 kilometers in 2005. hours.
A total of 876.645 kilometers (62.52%) were Motorized tricycles are the means of
barangay roads. Provincial roads totaled to transportation from the poblacion to the
214.571 kilometers that accounted for 15.2 nearby barangays. Public utility jeepneys
percent while national roads extended to are the means of transportation between
311.08765 kilometers. municipalities within the province. The
interior municipalities of Jipapad and
Bridges Maslog are presently not reached by land
A total of 125 bridges with a combined transportation because of the absence
length of 5,064.1 linear meters comple- of roads linking them to the existing road
mented the province’s road network. network.
In 2007, there were 99 bridges along
national roads and 26 along provincial Air Transportation
roads. Of the national bridges, 80 were There are two existing airports in the
concrete/steel modular bridge, 18 bailey, province but as of December 2005, there
and one timber while provincial bridges were no scheduled commercial flights to
had four concrete, three bailey and only the province. The Guiuan Airport, built
19 timber bridges. by the American Navy during the World
Concrete bridges had a combined length War ll period, and the Borongan Airport
of 4,528.7 linear meters or 55.32 percent of still cater to light private planes, chartered
the total bridge length. Bailey-type bridges cargo planes, and military planes. The
totaled 249 linear meters (31.6%) while the most convenient airport is at Tacloban City,
timber bridges had a combined length of which is about 200 kilometers by road from
286.4 linear meters (13.2%). Borongan.

Land Transportation Water Transportation
Passenger buses regularly ply the Taclo- Inter-island shipping lines do not serve
ban to Eastern Samar routes with final any Eastern Samar seaport. Commuter
destinations in Borongan, Guiuan, Dolores, launches loading both passengers and
and Oras. Regular travel time from Taclo- cargoes ply the Tacloban-Guiuan route
ban City to Borongan via the Taft-Buray daily. Small vessels load cargoes between
Road is approximately four hours, and a Borongan and Oras ports and other ports
little over three hours via the South Samar like Tacloban City, Cebu City, and Legaspi
coastal route. City.
23

The province has 10 ports and causeways. Cellular phone services operated by
Borongan Port is classified as a sub-port Smart Communications and Globe Commu-
while the ports in Oras, Guiuan, Dolores, nications were available province wide
and Giporlos are considered municipal since 2003.
ports. Other ports or causeways are located
in Arteche, San Policarpo, Sulat, Lawaan, Postal and Cargo Forwarding Services
Mercedes, Balangiga, and Taft. There were 19 post offices in the province
in 2005. These postal offices employed 28
Domestic Water Supply mail carriers. Borongan had three post
In 2006 there were a total of 5,345 water offices and four mail carriers while all the
systems facilities. Level 1 facilities, consist- other municipalities had only one mail
ing of shallow and deep wells, provided the carrier. Four private cargo forwarders,
domestic water requirements of majority namely: LBC, JRS Express, Aboitiz Cargo,
of households in the province. This type and Western Union had been operating in
of water source numbered 5,055---or 94.6 Borongan and handling mails, parcels, and
percent---of the total number of water facili- packages.
ties. Other households depended on Level
ll and Level lll water systems. In 2006, there Radio Stations and Cable TV
were 285 Level ll and five level III water Two AM radio stations are based in
facilities. Municipalities with level III water Borongan and operate from 5:00 am to
systems were Sulat, Hernani, Salcedo, and 9:30 pm. Both the government-owned DYES
Maydolong and the city of Borongan, which Radyo ng Bayan and the Catholic Church-
extended water connections to about 3,428 controlled DYVW operate on a power of
households. 10,000 watts. There are four FM stations
based in Borongan, Guiuan, Salcedo, and
Irrigation Oras and have a power of 500 watts. There
In 2006, there were 136 irrigation systems is no television station, but cable television
in the province with a combined service area services are available in 21 municipalities.
of 2,619 hectares. Most of the irrigation
systems were fully and partially operational. Power
The other systems were non-functional Electricity is directly provided by the Eastern
and in need of immediate rehabilitation. Samar Electric Cooperative (ESAMELCO),
The National Irrigation Administration has which derives most of its power supply from
identified 18,723 hectares as potential the National Power Corporation (NPC)-
irrigable area. operated Tongonan Geothermal Power
Plant in Leyte. The interior towns of Maslog
Telephone and Telegraph Facilities and Jipapad are served by solar-powered
Three telephone companies operated in generating sets.
Eastern Samar as of December 2005. These
telephone companies were Innove Commu- As of August 2006, 398 (66.6%) of all
nications (Globelines), BayanTel, and the barangays in the province had been
government-operated Telecommunications energized to serve a total of 35,797 (49%)
Office (TELOF). of all households in the province. As of
24

December 2009, there was an increase University, has master’s programs in
in the number of energized barangays to agriculture, education, and management
463 (77.5%). In terms of households from and doctorate program in educational
all municipalities, 45,096 (61.8%) of all management.
potential households now have electricity.
E. Local Institutional Capability
Health Facilities
In 2006, the province had 12 government Income
hospitals, 10 private hospitals and clinics, The provincial government earned a total
26 municipal health centers, and 104 income of P386,216,737.02 in 2005, which
barangay health stations. The government was up by 7.6 percent from its income
hospitals include one provincial hospital, level of P359,103,607.82 in 2004. The
five district hospitals, and six municipal total amount of income from local sources
hospitals. The combined bed capacity amounted to P22,458,807.99, which was 4.9
in government hospitals was 310, while percent of the province’s total income. Tax
private hospitals and clinics had 127 beds. revenues accounted for 42.1 percent while
The bed-to-population ratio was computed non-tax operating income stood at 57.8
at 1:884. percent. Meanwhile, income from external
sources accounted for 95 percent of the
Number and Location of Schools total provincial income. Internal Revenue
In SY 2005-2006, Eastern Samar had a Allotment estimated at P432,389,658.25
total 469 elementary schools, 458 of which constituted almost all (99.9%) of the exter-
were government and seven were private nally source-out income.
schools, 66 secondary schools, and eight
tertiary schools. Administrative Structure
Among the government elementary The provincial government employed
schools, 304 were complete elementary a total of 1,101 regular personnel as of
and 154 were incomplete elementary and August 2006. Out of this, 47.72 percent
primary schools. Incomplete elementary (526) were women and while men comprise
schools were usually located in the small the remaining 52.23 percent. The Provincial
and hard-to-reach barangays with few Health Office, which has the mandate to
enrollees. deliver hospital and primary healthcare
services, accounted for 47.8 percent of
Courses Offered the total number of provincial govern-
The seven vocational schools has courses ment employees. The Provincial Engineer-
in agriculture, crafts and home industries, ing Office, the infrastructure arm of the
arts and trades, and fisheries. Cours- province, was the second biggest office
es in tertiary schools, apart from post- with 167 staff, accounting for 15.17 percent
secondary, were baccalaureate degrees of the provincial government employees.
in management, education, agriculture, Other big provincial government depart-
fisheries, tourism, engineering, nursing ments were the Office of the Provincial
and commerce. The lone state college Agricultural Services, General Services
in the province, the Eastern Samar State Office, and Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
25

Elected Officials SP 2nd District:
During the period 2004 – 2010 the CABACABA, Gorgonio B.
governor of Eastern Samar was Hon. Ben SABULAO, Enerio M.
P. Evardone. Hon Leander R. Geli was ABUDA, Jonas B.
the vice-governor and acted as presiding BALDONO, Jenny G.
officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. REYES, Beatriz L.
During the May 2010 elections, Hon.
Evardone was elected as Representative for Civil Society
the Lone Congressional District of Eastern Nongovernment and people’s organi-
Samar. zations complement the efforts of
government and business in the devel-
The Honorable Conrado B. Nicart, Jr. opment of Eastern Samar. In 2006, 10
won as Governor during the May 2010 nongovernment organizations (NGOs)
elections. The newly elected Vice-Governor operated province wide by extending
is Hon. Christopher Sheen P. Gonzales. varied development services in educa-
Other officials who compose the Sanggu- tion, potable water supply and sanita-
niang Panlalawigan (SP) are as follows: tion, and healthcare. A few NGOs
served as partners of government in
SP 1st District: environmental protection, agricultural
MONTALLANA, Joji N. development, and policy advocacy.
BALATO, Floro Sr. B. In addition, there were 490 registered
AKLAO, Aldwin U. cooperatives. Of these, only 96 (19%)
CABATO, Celestino A. were operating in 2006. Services provid-
SUYOT, Byron M. ed were credit financing, marketing,
transport services, processing and other
developmental activities.

26

Part 2.
Status Report
on the Millennium
Development Goals

Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme
Poverty and Hunger
A. STATUS Poverty Incidence
Target 1: Halve, between 1990 and Poverty Incidence is estimated using the
2015, the proportion of people whose proportion of the population who are living
income is less than one dollar a day. below the poverty threshold.

27
27

Table 5. Magnitude and Proportion of Households/Population Living Below the Poverty Threshold, by Sex and by Urban/Rural, Eastern Samar, 2005-2006

Source: CBMS Survey 2005-2006

The official poverty threshold used for the reference period 2005. For the refer-
depends on the period the CBMS survey ence period of 2006, four municipalities of
was conducted in a particular municipality. Balangiga, Balangkayan, General MacAr-
Hence, the poverty threshold used in five thur, and Taft had a poverty threshold of
municipalities---namely, Maslog, Jipapad, P13,704 for urban areas and P13,257 for
San Julian, San Policarpo, and Sulat---was rural areas.
P10,443 for urban areas and P11,638 for
rural areas, both of which were based on The CBMS survey in 2005-2006 indicates
the survey conducted in 2004. Fourteen that there were 50,772 households, repre-
municipalities, namely Arteche, Borongan, senting 63.7 percent, in the province that
Can-avid, Dolores, Giporlos, Guiuan, were living below the poverty threshold.
Hernani, Lawaan, Llorente, Maydolong, Poverty incidence was higher in the rural
Mercedes, Oras, Quinapondan, and areas (69.3%) than in the urban areas
Salcedo, had a poverty threshold of P11,566 (50.0%). Of the total population in Eastern
for urban areas and P12,659 for rural areas Samar, 69.5 percent (or 268,104) were
below the poverty threshold. Of the male
Map 1. Proportion of Population Below Poverty Threshold by Municipality
population, 70.2 percent were below the
poverty threshold while 68.7 percent of the
female population fell below the poverty
threshold.

Among the 22 municipalities and one (1)
city, poverty incidence was highest in the
interior municipalities of Jipapad (86.4%)
and Maslog (85.4%), followed by General
MacArthur (82.0%), Dolores (81.6%),
and Hernani (81.3%). The lowest poverty
incidence was in the city of Borongan with
53.1 percent and in the municipalities of Taft
(61.2%) and Oras (63.0%). The poverty
incidence of the rest of the municipalities
ranged from 66.0 percent to 81.6 percent.
This indicates that majority of the members
are living below the poverty threshold, as
evidenced by the provincial estimate of
69.5 percent.
28

Table 6. Magnitude and Proportion of Households/Population Living Below the Food Threshold, by Sex and by Urban/Rural, Eastern Samar, 2005-2006


Subsistence Incidence Municipalities with the highest proportion
of their population living below the subsis-
Subsistence incidence is estimated using tence level were Jipapad (80.2%), Dolores
the proportion of households and the (75.7%), Maslog (75.3%), and Arteche
population who are living below the food (75.1%). Borongan, as the capital town and
threshold. commercial center, had the lowest propor-
tion of residents living below subsistence
The food thresholds in five munici- level: 42.3 percent. The other two lowest
palities: Maslog, Jipapad, San Julian, were Taft at 50.6 percent; and Oras at
San Policarpo, and Sulat for reference 51.1 percent. Other municipalities ranged
year 2004 were set at P8,196 for urban over the 50 percent mark, suggesting that
areas and P8,352 for rural areas. With majority of the population were below the
2006 as reference year for Balangiga, subsistence level.
Balangkayan, General MacArthur, and
Taft, the food threshold was at P9,795 for
Map 2. Proportion of Population Living Below Food Threshold by Municipality
urban areas and P9,813 for rural areas.
Finally, for majority (14) of the munici-
palities (Arteche, Borongan, Can-avid,
Dolores, Giporlos, Guiuan, Hernani,
Lawaan, Llorente, Maydolong, Mercedes,
Oras, Quinapondan, and Salcedo), food
threshold for reference year 2005 was set
at P9,078 for urban and P 9,085 for rural
areas.

The CBMS survey shows that in 2005-2006,
majority (52.9%) of households were living
below the food threshold. This translates
to a poverty rate of 59.4 percent among
the population. A higher proportion of the
households in the rural areas (57.7%) were
living below subsistence level as compared
to those in the urban areas (41.4%). Of the
total males, 60 percent were below the food
threshold while 58.7 percent of the females
were considered poor. Source: CBMS Survey 2005-2006

29

Poverty Gap Ratio Eight municipalities had the highest
poverty gap ratio of 0.5; namely, Jipapad,
Poverty gap ratio (based on poverty Dolores, Hernani, Arteche, General MacAr-
threshold) is defined as the “mean distance thur, Maslog, Giporlos, and Mercedes. The
separating the population from the poverty municipalities of Llorente, Balangiga, Sulat,
line (with the nonpoor given the distance Maydolong, Can-avid, and Balangkayan
of zero), expressed as a percentage of the had poverty gap ratios of 0.4. This was
poverty line.” The poverty gap ratio of the followed by San Julian, Lawaan, Salcedo,
province is 0.4 with the urban areas having Guiuan, Taft, Quinapondan and Oras with
a lower poverty gap ratio of 0.3 compared 0.3 poverty gap ratios. Those places with
to the rural area’s 0.4. the lowest at 0.2 were San Policarpo and
Borongan.
Table 7. Poverty Gap Ratio by Urban/Rural, Eastern Samar, 2005-2006
Target 1B. Achieve full and productive
employment and decent work for all,
including women and young people

Employment Rate
Considered employed in this study are
Map 3. Poverty Gap Ratio by Municipality those who are 15 years old and over as
of their last birthday during the reference
period and reported as either at work, or
with a job but not at work. Employment
rate is estimated using the total number of
employed persons against the total number
of persons in the labor force. In 2005-2006,
according to the CBMS survey, the total
members of the labor force is 143,530,
which is about 37.2 percent of the total
population in the province.

In 2005-2006, the employment rate in the
province was at 77.7 percent, according
to the CBMS survey. Males had a higher
proportion (83.7%) than the females
(65.5%). Surprisingly, the employment rate
in the rural areas (79.0%) was higher than
in the urban areas (74.6%).
Employment rates in 2005-2006 were
highest in Quinapondan (87.4%), Can-avid
(85.1%), Oras (84.6%), Maydolong

30

Table 8. Employment Rate by Sex and by Urban/Rural, Eastern Samar 2005-2006


Map 4. Employment Rate by Municipality
(83.4%), Jipapad (81.2%), San Julian
(81.2%), and Guiuan (80.7%). Lowest rates
were in Hernani at 61.6 percent, Giporlos
at 68.5 percent, and Taft at 68.8 percent.
Twelve of the municipalities were above the
provincial rate while 11, including the lone
city of Borongan, were below the provincial
estimate.

Target 1C. Halve, between 1990 and
2015, the proportion of people who
suffer from hunger

Proportion of Households who Experienced Food
Shortage

Food shortage is the experience of
hunger and not having anything to eat in.
The CBMS survey reports that only 12.76 Source: CBMS Survey 2005-2006
percent of the households experienced food
shortage in 2005-2006. There were more Food shortage was experienced by
in the rural areas (13.5%) than those in the majority of its population only in the munici-
urban areas who experienced hunger. Of pality of Maslog (68.9%). This is followed
the total population, 13.8 percent experi- by Balangiga (45.6%) and Sulat (38.0%).
enced food shortage. A higher proportion Seven municipalities had below 10 percent
of the males (14.1%) than of the females of its population experiencing food short-
(13.6%) experienced the same. age in the last three months prior to the

Table 9. Proportion of Households Who Experienced Food Shortage and by Urban/Rural, Eastern Samar 2006


31

Map 5. Food Shortage by Municipality below normal weights were classified
as either underweight or malnourished,
respectively.

In 2005-2006, the CBMS survey shows
that 6.7 percent (or 3,055 of 45,347
children) in the province who are under five
years of age were underweight. Females
had a slightly higher prevalence (6.9%)
than the males (6.6%). Those in the rural
areas had a much higher prevalence (7.5%)
than those in the urban (4.8%).

Based on this indicator, malnutrition
was highest in Jipapad (64.2%), followed

Map 6. Prevalence of Underweight Children Under 5 Years of Age


survey, with Dolores having the lowest at
5.6 percent. Thirteen of the municipalities
had rates above the provincial percentage
of 13.8 percent while the rest (around 10)
municipalities fell below.

Prevalence of underweight
children under 5 years old

The nutritional status of children below
five years of age was determined through
the Operation Timbang (OPT) results using
the International Reference Standard where
children having moderately and severely

Table 10. Prevalence of Underweight Children Under 5 Years of Age, by Sex and by Urban/Rural Eastern, Samar 2006

32 Source: CBMS Survey 2005-2006


by Maslog (20.7%), both of which are of cattle, 90 heads of carabao, and 254
interior municipalities. Ten municipalities goats were distributed to farmers in different
had prevalence ranging from 4.4 percent municipalities.
to 14.7 percent. The rest had proportions
of malnourished children ranging from 0.2 The Fishery Conservation Project involved
percent to under 4 percent, with Can-avid campaigns on fishery conservation on both
garnering the lowest rate at 0.2 percent. marine and inland resources. The project
While eight municipalities were above the also included artificial reef development,
provincial average of 6.7 percent, Balan- fish shelter sanctuaries, and campaign on
giga was at par and the rest of the fourteen anti-illegal fishing. To help the fisher folk,
municipalities were below the average. the provincial government distributed 200
units of marine engines to fisher folks at low
interest rate and affordable down payment
B. CURRENT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS requirement.

Poverty Alleviation Program Employment Program
To respond to the poverty and hunger The Employment Assistance Program
issues, the provincial government conduct- of the Provincial Government provides
ed the Provincial Anti-poverty Summit in assistance in finding job opportunities, both
2007 and the Food Summit in 2008, which locally and overseas. Since 2004, seven
resulted in a multi-sectoral comprehen- job fairs were organized by the province
sive collaboration in facing the issues on to provide opportunities for local and
poverty. overseas employment. From a total of 2,797
applicants who registered, 1,627 or 58.16
The Poverty Alleviation Program of the percent qualified for employment.
province provides for livelihood assistance
to cooperatives, Non-government Organi- Since 2007, P2 million was allocated for
zations (NGOs), People’s Organizations the Overseas Support Program, a loan
(POs) and other community organizations in facility with minimal interest for the place-
the form of loans and equipment. Through ment fee of qualified overseas job seekers.
the Agriculture Product Diversification and Fifteen recipients availed of such loan at
Intensification Program of the Office of the P50,000 each and one recipient has already
Provincial Agricultural Services (OPAS), paid in full.
the provincial government distributed 340
hand tractors and 100 shallow tube wells In line with this, from 2005-2009, the
to individual farmers and associations Technical Education and Skills Develop-
or cooperatives at low interest rates and ment Authority (TESDA) has been able to
affordable counterparts. train 42,801 individuals and out of which
91.17 percent (or 29,022) had graduated. It
Additional income is provided to farmers was able to assess 22,821 applicants from
through the Barangay Livestock Breed- various centers and provided certification to
ing Loan Program and Goat Dispersal 78 percent (17,759) of those assessed. Of
Program. Since 2006, a total of 343 heads those given an assessment, a total of 6,714
33

were reported as employed. There remains Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated
more of those who were employed but not Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS)
reported at all. project, which was jointly implemented
by the Department of Social Welfare and
From 2006-2009, TESDA provided schol- Development (DSWD) and the National
arship under the Pangulo Gloria Scholarship Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) to
(PGS) along areas with high employment counteract poverty in the country. From
potentials; example, welders, butchers, 2004-2006, the 101 poorest barangays in
plumbers, housekeepers,and domestic the municipalities of Sulat, Maslog, Jipapad,
helpers. The most outstanding course Can-avid, Balangiga, and San Policarpo
is the one for butchers as it produced 29 received economic support, physical infra-
graduates who were sent to Canada. structure, basic service infrastructure, and
This is followed by welders, which is in capability-building activities amounting to
demand abroad and locally in shipbuilding P72 million. The local counterpart amounted
companies such as Hanjin and Aboitiz. The to P29.8 million.
Provincial Government gave scholarships
to 808 TESDA trainees while the Pangulong Cooperatives Development
Gloria Scholarship Program supported As of June 2007, there were 513 coopera-
1,412 scholars. tives that were registered in Eastern Samar.
Twenty percent were categorized as
On the second semester of 2009, TESDA operating after the conduct of a series of
focused on helping its graduates land delisting of non-operating businesses which
gainful employment through its jobs bridg- resulted in their dissolution or cancellation.
ing program. So far, there are three opera- By revitalizing the Provincial Cooperative
tional blue desks, or employment desks, Development Council, which was chaired
strategically placed in the three TESDA by Governor Ben P. Evardone, capability
institutions: ANAS, BNAS and SNSAT. building activities and technical assistance
were made possible through coordination
Every summer since 2004, the Special with member agencies.
Program for the Employment of Students
(SPES) of the Provincial Government Through the Cooperatives Savings
provides summer jobs for qualified students Mobilization and Capital Build-up Program
aged 15 to 25 years. A total of 1,148 (SMCBUP), innovative savings mobiliza-
students have already availed of this tion and capital build-up schemes were
program for the past 6 years. For this developed by the cooperatives themselves.
summer, 250 slots will be made available In 2006, 89 cooperatives in Eastern Samar
to qualified students. This is jointly funded generated P8,08 million in savings and
by the LGU (60%) and DOLE (40%). almost P3.2 million increase in capital.

KALAHI - CIDSS Tindahan Natin Program
The most impoverished barangays in This is a poverty alleviation project initiat-
the province became recipients of the ed by the national government for employ-
World Bank -assisted Kapit-Bisig Laban sa ment generation, livelihood, and food
34

security. The project provides government- 10 farm-to-market roads 60.437 kilometers
subsidized quality rice and noodles through long and costing P12.931 million. Three
a store jointly identified and endorsed by President’s bridges worth P13.8 million in
DSWD, City and Municipal Social Welfare Borongan, Guiuan and Sulat were also
and Development Offices of the LGUs and completed.
the Barangay Council. This has accred-
ited 125 Tindahan Natin Operators and The Infrastructure for Rural Productiv-
benefited 28,866 low-income families in 298 ity Enhancement Sector (InFRES) Project,
barangays in the province.. which has a long-term goal of increasing
rural income in areas with high agricultural
This program has resulted in meeting the potential provided assistance worth more
demand for quality rice at less cost among than P400 million for the construction
poor families in far-flung areas. Qualified of 139.19 kilometers of farm-to-market
operators were given the opportunity to roads in Can-avid, Arteche, Maslog,
avail of the program and to manage a Balangkayan, Maydolong, Hernani, Sulat,
simple business. and Dolores.

Infrastructure Support Food Fortification Program
Infrastructure support in the form of roads and The provincial government, through
bridges are necessary to facilitate development the Provincial Health Office, began
in the countryside. A total of 107 infrastructure implementing in 2000 the Philippine Food
projects were undertaken from 2004 - 2009, Fortification Act of 2000 or RA 8976. This
56 of which were farm-to-market roads worth law mandates that staple food such as
P102 million while 17 farm-to-market roads rice, sugar, flour, and oil be fortified with
worth P50 million are still for bidding. From iron and Vitamin A. In line with this, the
2008-2010, a total of 610.62 kilometers of Food Fortification Program of the province
barangay, municipal, and provincial roads aims to fight and eliminate micronutrient
were repaired, rehabilitated and opened. malnutrition by increasing dietary intake
Meanwhile, during the period 2005-2010, a of Vitamin A, iron, and iodine equivalent
total of P316.3 million was utilized for infrastruc- to 50 percent of RDA contributed by forti-
ture projects, with 72 percent of the funding fied foods.
from the Department of Agriculture (DA) in the
amount of P100 million, from National Disaster In relation to this, the micronutrient
Coordinating Council (NDCC) worth P100 supplementation through the Garantisa-
million and from the European Commission dong Pambata service provides a bi-annual
(EC) grant of P27.6 million. week-long delivery of a package of health
services to children between ages 0 – 71
Agrarian Reform Community Projects months old with the purpose of reducing
(ARCPs) funded by the Asian Development morbidity and mortality among them. This is
Bank (ADB) constructed 17 farm-to-market achieved through the promotion of positive
roads that are 61.231 kilometers in length Filipino values for proper child growth and
and costing P137 million. Locally funded development. This period of implementation
ARCPs (provincial counterpart) completed started in 1995 and is still ongoing.
35

For its efforts, the province was Llorente, Salcedo, Oras, and Balangkayan in
given national recognition as the 2006 and 2007 and in Early Childhood Care
Garantisadong Pambata Champion and Development (ECCD) program sites of
of Region VIII for a consistently high Maydolong and Guiuan. This resulted in
accomplishment in Vitamin A supple- decreased malnutrition and increased in the
mentation and deworming of children knowledge, attitudes and skills of mothers in
from 2007-2009. the prevention and control of malnutrition.
Sources of funds include United Nations
Pabasa Sa Nutrisyon Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), PLAN
This is an information-sharing type of activ- International and local government units.
ity where mothers of malnourished children
are taught how to properly select and prepare Home, School and Community Food Production
family meals that are affordable yet nutritious This includes setting up of kitchen gardens
for the prevention and control of malnutrition. in homes, schools, and communities; putting
This was implemented in the municipalities of up of demo centers and nurseries, distribu-
Arteche, Jipapad, Maslog, Lawaan, Balangi- tion of plant materials, small animals/finger-
ga, Giporlos, General Macarthur, Borongan, lings and provision of technical assistance
Sulat, Can-avid, Dolores, San Policarpo, in food production.

Pabasa sa Nutrisyon Cum
Supplemental Feeding Program Plus
ÂGÊ (PSN CUM SF Plus G)

This is a locally ini-
tiated project at Brgy.
Punta Maria, Borongan,
E. Samar, conceptual-
ized and implemented
by the Barangay Nutri-
tion Committee (BNC)
through the Barangay
Nutrition Scholar (BNS) with assistance from
PNC as a strategic approach to address the mal-
nutrition problem in the area. The three major
program components are: Pabasa sa Nutrisyon, tion prevalence for both pre-school and school
Supplemental Feeding and the “G” Strategy children was reduced in 2008 from 20.41% to
(Gardening Component). 10.2% and from 22.41% to 5.17%, respectively.
The beneficiaries were pre-school and school For this best practice, the barangay was the
children, pregnant and lactating women, mothers recipient of a Provincial award as Most Outstand-
and/or caregivers, nutritionally-at-risk families ing Barangay Nutrition Committee and the BNS
and the entire community. as the Most Outstanding Barangay Nutrition
As a result of this best practice, the malnutri- Scholar in 2008.
36
36

Eastern Samar Province Report on MDGs Progress

Eastern Samar Province Report on MDGs Progress

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Eastern Samar Province Report on MDGs Progress